Review: Project Gotham Racing 3 (Xbox 360)

The Details: Project Gotham Racing 3 is a street-race simulator that puts you behind the wheel of some 80 cars on a diverse selection of urban courses, ranging from the Las Vegas strip to Tokyo's Shinjuku district. Gameplay centers on standard races against multiple opponents, but also includes stunt-driving challenges, including tire-shredding drifting and NASCAR-style drafting. Each of the 16 types of stunts awards "kudos" points that unlock concept cars and increase your overall ranking.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The Experience: As with previous titles in the PGR franchise, PGR3's control scheme is simple and intuitive, and the game sports a wealth of online options, via Xbox Live. Sound effects are spot on (especially with Dolby 5.1 surround sound) as the transmission thumps between gears, and engines howl to a 150 mph fever pitch. But it's graphics that sets PGR3 away from earlier versions. Environments are stunningly realistic, not only in their general atmosphere but also in the game's attention to detail. Photo-realistic reproductions of cities are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing (minus the traffic jams). Add in a wealth of online options—such as practicing against a recorded "ghost" version of an opponent before racing them for real--and you get the state of the art in racing games.

More From Popular Mechanics

The Downside: Because automakers don't like to license their cars to a demolition derby, the game's realism doesn't extend to crashes. Slam a Ferrari into the wall at 160 mph and the damage barely meets the average insurance deductible. Mirrors crumple and windshlelds fracture, but you and your ride are essentially indestructible.

The Audience: Anyone who likes fast cars, which we're pretty sure is everyone.

The Bottom Line: Ultimately, this is a game that rewards real-life driving experience and automotive know-how with virtual-life cars and tracks that feel precisely as they should. We can't say it enough—PGR3 is the best car racing game on the market, and (for now, at least) the best Xbox 360 game … period.